Lawmakers are working to block an unprecedented power grab by the Environmental Protection Agency to use the Clean Water Act (CWA) and control land alongside ditches, gullies and other ephemeral spots by claiming the sources are part of navigable waterways.
These temporary water sources are often created by rain or snowmelt, and would make it harder for private property owners to build in their own backyards, grow crops, raise livestock and conduct other activities on their own land, lawmakers say.“Never in the history of the CWA has federal regulation defined ditches and other upland features as ‘waters of the United States,’” said Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), the ranking committee member, and Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
“This is without a doubt an expansion of federal jurisdiction,” the lawmakers said in a May 31 letter to House colleagues.The unusual alliance of the powerful House Republicans and Democrat to jointly sponsor legislation to overturn the new guidelines signals a willingness on Capitol Hill to rein in the formidable agency.
“The Obama administration is doing everything in its power to increase costs and regulatory burdens for American businesses, farmers and individual property owners,” Mica said in a statement to Human Events. “This federal jurisdiction grab has been opposed by Congress for years, and now the administration and its agencies are ignoring law and rulemaking procedures in order to tighten their regulatory grip over every water body in the country.”
“But this administration needs to realize it is not above the law,” Mica said.
The House measure carries 64 Republican and Democratic cosponsors and was passed in committee last week. A companion piece of legislation is already gathering steam in the Senate and is cosponsored by 26 Republicans. Read more...........

Congress Calls Out EPA - Hot Air -One group in Congress which doesn’t get nearly enough attention in the media is the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and, in particular, the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. Their chairman, Andy Harris (R-MD) sent a letter to the EPA this week which was probably long overdue. In it, he calls on EPA chair Lisa Jackson to explain what he identifies as a very disturbing pattern of behavior when it comes to natural gas drilling and the agency’s somewhat “casual” approach to science.The letter outlines concerns over “EPA’s confusing and questionable approach to hydraulic fracturing,” summarizing three highly publicized instances in which the EPA leapt to scientific conclusions before having all the facts, only to later retract or revise its claims.
“These examples, while individually very troubling, collectively suggest EPA is not objectively pursuing an improved understanding of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water,” Chairman Harris says in the letter. Instead, Harris asserts that EPA “is determined to find fault with the technology in order to justify sweeping new regulations.” Read more.......

This Week in Senate: Farm Bill, Anti EPA Rule Will DominateThe Senate this week is expected to take up the 10-year, $969 billion farm bill —work that is expected to keep those lawmakers busy all month debating $23.6 billion in cuts.
The legislation includes the contentious food stamp program, which now helps feed 46 million Americans and which lawmakers hope to fund at a cost of $750 billion, a $4.5 billion cut.
The Senate has several items on its to-do list before the Fourth of July recess, including flood insurance, student loans and completion of the highway bill, which also contains language approving the Keystone XL pipeline.
The Senate will vote on a measure by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) that would overturn the EPA’s Utility MACT rule that critics say will shutter coal plants across the country.

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About This Website

Welcome to Welborn Freedom Watch. The Opening picture of this Web Site was taken at the 'Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor' rally. I am very concerned over the direction our President and Congress are leading us. As a conservative Republican and a Christian, my focus will be from these perspectives. My goal with this site is to gather news articles, important information of interest, direct news feeds and links to other sites, all in one place to make all of this more accessible for your convenience.

Our Founding Fathers

Patrick Henry, Revolutionary Leader and Orator - The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.

Abraham Lincoln - 16th President - In regard for this Great Book, I have this to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book .

Recommended Books

Saving Freedom - Jim Demint

A Praying Life - Paul Miller

The American Patriot's Bible - Dr. Richard G. Lee

Common Sense - Glenn Beck

Liberty and Tyranny - Mark R. Levin

The 5,000 Year Leap-W. Cleon Skousen

Special Scripture

Psalm 119:45 - I will walk about in freedom for I have sought out your precepts.